I've been a Windows user for most of my life, but I've started to love experimenting with Linux. I've tried a few distributions like Debian, Mint, Ubuntu, and Zorin OS, and I generally dual boot them successfully. However, I'm having a tough time with Arch Linux. After successfully installing it manually, I noticed that it didn't add itself to the UEFI boot menu like the other distros did. I think I need to configure the GRUB bootloader during the installation, but I'm not sure how to do that without erasing my entire drive. Can anyone provide some straightforward advice on how to resolve this dual-boot issue with Windows?
3 Answers
It sounds like you might have missed a step in the installation process, specifically section 3.8 in the Arch Wiki. You definitely need to use GRUB for the bootloader. Check out the GRUB installation instructions on the Arch Wiki to guide you through. If GRUB doesn’t create the EFI entry, try using `efibootmgr` to manage boot entries. Good luck!
Check out our wiki for some installation tips! Make sure to always connect via an Ethernet cable for the best results, and don’t forget to remove your boot media after installation!
Starting from a distro that you’re comfortable with could help. You might want to try using Archstrap from an Ubuntu or Mint environment to set up Arch on a USB drive. Open multiple wiki tabs on Firefox for easy copying and pasting, have some community forums or IRC open for help, and maybe follow along with a YouTube tutorial while jamming to some music. Don't rush it—take your time and enjoy the process!
Great advice! Following your own pace really eases the pressure. Thanks for sharing!
If you forgot to install `efibootmgr`, that’s a common mistake! Make sure you install it because it’s crucial for getting the EFI entry set up right.